Fisher, Clear Creek, Riding Mountain Aspen Parkland Natural Area, Manitoba (Photo by NCC)

Fisher

Where is this species found?

The fisher is a solitary, wide-ranging mammal. A member of the weasel family, the fisher lives in coniferous habitats across much of Canada and the northern U.S.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Fishers prefer mature forests with access to water, and avoid open areas. Primarily nocturnal, the fisher usually spends its days sleeping in hollow trees or logs, but it will occasionally venture out in daylight.

What does this species look like?

This slender mammal has brown fur with gold or silver markings on its head, and grows up to 80-112 centimetres (32-43 inches) head to tail, weighing anywhere from 1.5 to 6 kilograms (3-13 pounds).

What does this species eat?

Fishers prey on birds and small mammals, including rabbits, hares, rodents, squirrels and porcupines.

But the fisher is not above feasting on reptiles, carrion and fruits. Fishers are year-round hunters, active throughout Canadian winters.

Fun fact: porcupine hunter extraordinaire

Although not a usual staple for carnivores, a porcupine can easily feed a fisher for two days.

Fishers will follow a porcupine up a tree, overtaking it, and then attack the porcupine from above. The fisher's ability to descend trees head-first, aided by its retractable claws, helps it to approach the porcupine stealthily, attacking the only quill-free spot on its body — the face.

Mating cycle

Fishers mate in spring and have a one-year gestation period, including an 11-month delay before implantation. Fishers give birth to an average of three kits in March or April. Kits are weaned after four months and families break up in autumn.

What is this species' conservation status?

The fisher's original range was severely reduced throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s through over-trapping, pest control and habitat modification (logging, fire and farming). NatureServe lists both the fisher's threat severity and immediacy as high.

Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, fishers may venture into urban areas, where they will seek out food. Restricting access to garbage, pet foods, pets and domestic fowl (especially at night) will help avoid negative interactions with these animals. It is also wise to leave fishers alone as they can react aggressively when startled. Fishers are an important part of our native wildlife. By respecting them and taking simple precautions, humans and fishers can live side by side.

What is NCC doing to protect habitat for this species?

In Canada the fisher is considered secure and can be found in many of Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC's) natural areas, including the Frontenac Arch, Northern Bruce Peninsula and Riding Mountain which provide movement corridors for wide-ranging mammals.

By maintaining these habitats the NCC can help protect the fisher's status in Canada.

To find out how you can help, contact us at 1-800-465-0029 or via email.

Other neat fisher facts from Environment Yukon

• Contrary to popular belief, fishers do not hunt or eat fish. It is thought that early Dutch settlers named this large member of the weasel family after the European polecat known as "fitch" or "fitchet."
• In deep snow or on thin crusts, fishers walk flat-footed to evenly distribute their weight over the snow.
• Fishers have extremely mobile hind limbs that are able to rotate 180 degrees.
• While delayed implantation of an embryo is not rare among mammals, the fisher has the longest delay period.
• Fishers have been known to move up to 160 kilometres in a single summer, but the normal home range for an adult male is 20 square kilometres.

Sources

Animal Diversity Web
Environment Yukon
NatureServe